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November 2018 saw a wave of candidates from all walks of science—engineering, physics, medicine, and other life sciences—win first-time positions in the House, Senate, and state legislatures across the country. Of 20 STEM candidates running for Congressional seats that The Scientist counted last year, 10 won their races, the vast majority of them Democrats as well as political newcomers. Of three who ran for Senate seats, two were successful. And of at least 23 candidates seeking positions in state legislatures, 12 won.
Many of their campaigns promised to strengthen fact-based decision making in Washington and beyond, and to counter a growing anti-science sentiment widely perceived in politics. One year on, some say they believe they’ve been able to accomplish that—not only by introducing legislation informed by their scientific background, but also by using an evidence-based approach to finding solutions on non-scientific issues, from immigration to election ...
